Click this image to read the whole story in pdf format.  Get ready for a gross photo of a human ear.

Go directly to the Northfield Historic Society here.

This is the photo set of some sweet photos from the very first DJJD!

Happy Birthday Lori!  Last night we had a party for her at the Eagle's Club here in Northfield.  Her brother Russell playing an acoustic set with friends Chad and Ian.  They sounded awesome!  Thanks everyone for coming. 

No, we're not leaving Northfield, just need to downsize a bit.  Please send this to anyone you might know is looking for a great deal on a super house in Northfield!  http://708eastridge.info/

It was a great way to start my career at KYMN Radio.  I reported for duty at 8am and the Minnesota Twins showed up at 9.  There was plenty of excitement and I didn't know what to expect.  I met Dan Gladden, Nick Blackburn and Scott Baker.  Everyone was great as we shuffled them around from one thing to the next.  They even signed stuff for us and took photos graciously.  Later on Rick Anderson (pitching coach) showed up late.  He was seeing his pitchers for the first time since season end. in early October.  It was cool to see them greet each other.  I love how they all have nick-names that end in "ey".  Rick called Scott, "Scotty" and Nick Blackburn, "Blackie".  Dan "Dazzle" Gladden was awesome.  I can't imagine their lives, being mauled all the time like they are. 

I finally got my photo taken with Wayne Eddy and the other guy jumped in.

From KYMN Twins Caravan 2009. Northfield Middle School.

 Video of introductions:

 Photos of Q & A section:

I was able to stop by the Cinema last week and snap off some quick photos of their tear-out process.  Jerry Anderson was there with Vicki as they watched a hand full of projectionist remove the three cameras.  Vicki was the "face and voice" of my movie watching childhood.  She was besides herself.  I kept wanting to hug her.  I informed her that I was upset at her for a time when she wouldn't let me in to see Eddie Murphy's "Raw".  It was some comic-relief.  Vicki spoke about getting a "day job" for the first time in twenty-something years.  She just couldn't imagine having an evening free. 

I think you'll love this series of photos as you can see a rare "behind the scenes" view of the theaters and of the upstairs projector room.  Not to mention the theaters with the lights on.  Did you ever know that was the color scheme?

I've also included a sot I grabbed from the papers website that shows the very first film that I saw there.  Yes, I was standing in line on the first showing of Indiana Jones -The Temple of Doom.

First, I'd like to establish a basic definition.  I grew up collecting "buttons".  They are usually round metal collectibles with a latching hook on the back.  There is a message of some sort on the front.  But, I have learned that "button" isn't the most commonly accept term for this...."pin-backs" is.  But I've hear a button also called a "pin" or "lapel pin".  When I first heard "pin-back" a few years ago when I was hunting for older Defeat of Jesse James Days buttons, I didn't know what it meant.  I've since established many different button collections, and know to ask for pin-backs when looking online and talking with old-timers.

Anyways......last year I found a bag of about forty small buttons at a garage sale and gave to my daughter.  She took to them like I did when I was young.  I used to collect any old button, whereas now, I only collect specific ones.  Rylie has a cork board with her collecting on display.  When I was in my early teens, I had about hundreds all over my room, mostly hung on my curtains.  I wish I have photos of that. 

So, I've combine two obsessions into one.  I collect "the shape of Minnesota" as odd as that is, and buttons.  Well, view my gallery below to see what I've recently come up with.  I've also included a complete list of my main button collections below that.

My other main button collections include:

• Minneapolis Aquatennial
• St Paul Winter Carnival
• Northfield Defeat of Jesse James Days
• Minnesota Shaped Buttons
• Waterville Bullhead Days

Before and after pictures of a dozen 30 year old Ash trees being removed from 5th street July 25th 2008.

I work on 5th street in downtown Northfield and was privy to the vast and rapid change that took place on Thursday and Friday of this past week.  I am attaching a photo gallery of 5th street construction along with just one video of the tree felling.  There are more under my youtube collection. 

On Thursday they removed the cement from the road exposing the soil below.  I have no idea how long it had been since that dirt has seen sunlight.  An enormous piece of machinery pulled it right up and dumped it into waiting trucks.  I don't know where that cement went. 

On Friday they cut down trees.

I collect all sorts of pins, buttons, pinbacks, etc, mostly from Minnesota celebrations including Defeat of Jesse James Days, Bullhead Days, the St Paul Winter Carnival and the Minneapolis Aquatennial.  The Aquatennial started in 1940 and has had solid annual celebrations accept the 1945 and 1946 during the war.  As I write this, there are 66 pin years available and I have 60 of them. 

These are very interesting to view.  I especially love the re-occurring skipper wheel theme.  

I haven't had time to post a lot this month so far because I've been so busy shooting everything.  I've had one after another great set of photo opportunities.  Have a look for yourself.  I encourage you to post your comments on any photo for everyone to see. 

By Brothers Fish Fry in St Louis Park

Taking My Girls to the Rice County Fair

Laps for Logan

Books and Stars

It was so nice to come home Saturday night, take off a perfectly clean shirt and hang it up to be worn again.  I was out at a bar all night watching a hard rock band and there wasn't a bit of cigarette smoke in the air.  I love the smoking ban.  But, that wasn't the best thing about the evening.  My wife's brother is in a band called "Flatrate" that frequents the night clubs in the Twin Cities.  They are a 6 person band that mostly covers 93Xish (heavy modern rock) stuff, with a hand full or originals mixed in. I was very impressed with the vocals.  Russ and Jimmy team up and trade off throughout the evening.  I was especially impressed with their vocal exchanges in P.O.D.'s "South Town". (P.O.D. by the way stands for "payable on death", as in your sins, not "prince of darkness" as I once thought.  The contradiction of the two acronyms is quite the paradox though). You can listen to South town at the end of this video.  Sorry about my camera's poor sound quality.  In it's defense, it was around 130 dB. Can you also click on their photo on the right to view their site (after you look at my video and photos).

Earlier this year my Uncle Kent & Aunt Kay Freeland planned an outing on Lake Pepin in Lake City, MN.  They rented a large paddle boat that had been restored for use on this large waterfront.  It was a double decker with a full bar, bathrooms, retro-charm, great service, near perfect weather, friends and family and a view to kill for.  It was a perfect day and I'd like to thank Kent and Kay for everything.  Please enjoy the following photo and video albums.  Meanwhile, I am putting together a compilation of these photos and videos, that will be presented to music.  I just wanted to get these up first.

Friends and family that were aboard, please leave a comment for everyone to read.  Tell me what you thought of the trip.  Share photos if you can.

Click here to view all video

It has been 976 days since Rylie first stepped through the doors of the new Northfield Montessori facility in 2005.  At age 3 Rylie joined the "Discovery I" classroom where she moved to "Discovery II" and finally into the "Montessori" room.  Last week, she left for the last time after completing the Kindergarten program. I would personally like to thank all the teachers for their hard work over the years.  It's a job that not many could do and I don't think teachers are rewarded enough in our society.

This step in Rylie's life is truly a fork in the road for me and her.  See, Rylie's mom lives in a neighboring town and after much debate, it was decided that Rylie would attend public school in that system at this time.  I really wanted Rylie to attend school and grow up in the same community that I did.  However, she will still split equal time between towns by dividing up vacations, weekends and holidays between the two families. 

It all started for me in the June of 1994 when I was invited to "Mike's Cabin" on lake Tatonka in Waterville MN for a weekend event celebrating their annual "Bullhead Days".  Did you know they are the "Bullhead capital of the world" so their city sign proclaims. 

I was pumped to stay the weekend in the cabin.  Turns out there was no cabin.  Just a parked camper and it was full.  So, I slept in the back of a pick-up truck.  That next morning, I officially re-named it "Hart's lake shore property" so as not to mis-lead anyone else.  Truck beds are brutal. 

For 14 years I have spend the 2nd week of June in Waterville.  I started to collect their celebration pin-back buttons.  I am grateful to the Hart family for having us all down year after year.  If you know of anyone who might have buttons from prior years, please let me know!

Following is a list of traditional activities (some of which I do and do not partake in).

• Lighting off fireworks.  Some legal and some no-so-much.
• Boating on Tatonka and watching Mike do cannon-balls into the green water.
• Taking the boat through a small, shallow channel that I named "Appacolypse Now" after the familiar scenes in the afore mentioned movie. 
• Playing catch with a ball and glove with the guys.  We once had an 8-way going.
• BBQing
• Going "into town" to watch locals eat disgusting deep-fried bullheads.  (those are rough fish...bottom feeders).
• Singing karaoke at the "Corner Bar".
• 2008 was the 44th year of the celebration.

So, here it is.  Almost every photo that I've ever taken of the lake festivities.  It's fun to watch everyone change through the years.  Notice a crew of faithful that never change while the yearly guests change. Click the mosaic.

Or, you can click here to view my collection of Bullhead Days Buttons. 

They had their musical performance this morning.  I was very impressed as this was probably the first for most of them.  I remember being in their shoes.  We all had to get up there at some point in our childhood.  I remember looking out at the parents and belting it out.  We'll, now I found myself on the other side of things, as I do often with my kids.  Good job Kayla.

What started out as a weekly "meeting of the minds" at the Rueb n' Stein in downtown Northfield turned into what we believe to be a unique concept.  Adam Gurno  & Tim Freeland have teamed up to launch a mostly web-based endeavor that turns old photos and any video into a custom tailored presentation for any event, set to your choice of music and fully personalized to please. 

"We really seemed to click and had unique talents that fit together perfectly," said Tim.  "We found a shared interest in entrepreneurial endeavors and quickly agreed that the path to success was to include the latest technology and had to be driven by an online presence."

The concept of their business includes taking old and new photos and video relevant to a certain person or event, for example, and artistically weaving them together  into one flowing presentation, all to the beat of your chosen musical soundtrack.  Using their own experiences along with the latest video and digital photography software, they are able to enhance, fix, alter, blend and direct the content together in ways that tell a story. 

"Tim had skills with business management, video production, advertising, sales, video archiving and photo restoration while I had experience with building online web site systems, multi-media software, video editing, artistic direction as well as working with the local Northfield Citizens Online (NCO) group and running Northfield.org," explained Adam.